In cognitive psychology, what is the primary effect of pausing before a certain word in the middle of a sentence for the listener?

• A. It makes the listener focus only on the speaker's tone rather than the content.
• B. It leads the listener to ignore the meaning of the sentence entirely.
• C. It causes the listener to forget the previous part of the sentence.
• D. It helps the listener anticipate and process the upcoming word more effectively.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that in cognitive psychology, pausing before a word in a sentence is related to how listeners process and anticipate language.
2. Recognize that such a pause acts as a cue, signaling the listener to prepare for important or upcoming information.
3. Consider how this pause affects attention: it does not cause the listener to ignore meaning or focus solely on tone, nor does it make them forget previous information.
4. Recall that the primary effect is to enhance the listener's ability to anticipate and process the upcoming word, improving comprehension.
5. Summarize that strategically placed pauses help the brain segment speech and allocate cognitive resources efficiently for better understanding.